Incredible 'customer response' causes shipping times for the new iPad to slip to 2-3 weeks in UK and US

Last Friday, we told you about "reports out of the UK" that suggested some customers who had pre-ordered the new iPad were receiving emails from Apple stating their orders were delayed until at least March 20th.

If you head on over to Apple's website right now, you'll see that shipping times for the third-generation iPad have slipped in the UK and US to "2-3 weeks".

"Customer response to the new iPad has been off the charts and the quantity available for pre-order has been purchased," Apple said in a statement to USA Today.

"Customers can continue to order online and receive an estimated delivery date."

Chaos strikes

It's no great surprise to read that there has been overwhelming demand for the new iPad and that Apple has been subsequently forced to extend its shipping estimates for the device. The Cupertino-based company had to take the same approach at the launch of the iPad 2, after all.

The one-year-old tablet's original 2-3 week shipping window was quickly extended to 3-4 weeks last March.